Elmshadow's Herb Lessons - ShC Kit Curriculum

**Pitou** · #1 January 27th, 2023, 01:38 AM

Current Students
Featherkit
Sharpkit

[ - Don't worry about posting order except for Elmshadow's (only 1 post per OC at a time between Elmshadow's posts)
- Elmshadow's posts will wait at least 2 days if everybody hasn't responded yet
- Upon the second time your character is being skipped, they will be "dropped" from the class
- Please bump me if I take too long...I'm sometimes forgetful and get caught up in other things]

**Pitou** · #2 January 27th, 2023, 01:45 AM

**Elmshadow**

[ Gentlepaw ( @Cupidity ), Dogkit ( @moonlit.x ) ]

Gathering the supplies he figured he'd need, similar to what he'd done for his first lesson, he carried his bundle to the kit den and set it down between his large paws. "Gentlepaw and Dogkit, let's get started on your herb lesson." He was pleased to see his son taking an interest in herbs, something he had not personally done as a kit though he had, like Dogkit, found interest in whatever his own father had been doing. It had begun and Elmshadow knew this was what he'd been waiting for all these moons. His son would grow into a strong and competent, and well-rounded, warrior for their clan.

**xavier.** · #3 January 27th, 2023, 10:01 PM

| Dogkit |
| He/Him |
| A black furred tom with white paws, tail tip and chin; Green eyes |

~ Dogkit had been minding his own business in the playden. Vulturekit was nowhere to be seen so Dogkit didn't really have anything to do. That is until the tom-kit heard his name being called by a all too familiar voice. The black and white kitten looked up to see the grey pelt of his father, Elmshadow. The tom quickly remembered the herb lessons that he was supposed to take. Dogkit quickly got up, stretched and padded over to the medicine cat and the apprentice who had also been called. Once he got to the two the kit looked over at the apprentice. Ah, it was the one who had gave him tips on doing a crouch. That reminded Dogkit to show his father later. The kit glanced at Gentlepaw as if greeting her before looking back at Elmshadow for the tom before him and waited for him to continue. ~

| @Ravensong - Elmshadow; @Cupidity - Gentlepaw |

**Pitou** · #4 February 5th, 2023, 07:40 PM

**Elmshadow**

[ Oof, feel free to bump me if I take too long! ]

It was no surprise to him that his son had been prompt in responding to his call. Gentlepaw was an apprentice he hadn't taken much notice of but he was glad to see her attentive and prompt as well. It was only his second lesson but he hadn't been expecting to be teaching apprentices. He wasn't opposed to it and found it rather encouraging that the apprentice was going through the extra initiative by taking the added course. "Do either of you know any herbs? Or what we use herbs for?"

**xavier.** · #5 February 7th, 2023, 10:10 AM

| Dogkit |
| He/Him |
| A black furred tom with white paws, tail tip and chin; Green eyes |

~ Dogkit only shook his head at the first question his father asked. The tom then turned his head to face the apprentice that was sitting next to ask about catnip. Dogkit then turned his head back to his father at the second question. That seemed like a pretty obvious answer to give.

"Herbs are used for injury and sickness." ~

| @Ravensong - Elmshadow; @Katieuwu - Gentlepaw |

**Pitou** · #6 February 11th, 2023, 08:22 PM

**Elmshadow**

The medicine cat watched the apprentice and kit with a blank expression, flicking an ear mildly at Gentlepaw's response. "Catmint, yes. It's an herb that is easy to find by its scent and is used to treat greencough. It's an important herb but not always easy to find." He shot a glance at Dogkit and gave a slight nod, "Yes, but they can also be used for many other things. Herbs can soothe a cough or treat an upset stomach, they can also prevent infection, ease pain, and aid in healing wounds. But we also have herbs that bolster strength, increase a queen's milk, satiate hunger, and mask other scents. Then there are also herbs that can do the opposite. Poisons," he pulled out a shiny bright red berry from behind one of his paws, "This is a holly berry. It is not the most poisonous herb in the forest but it can still turn fatal if not treated and other berries like this can kill you before you could even make it back to camp. Do not go around eating things you don't know, no matter how harmless or tasty they appear."

**xavier.** · #7 February 26th, 2023, 12:41 PM

| Dogkit |
| He/Him |
| A black furred tom with white paws, tail tip and chin; Green eyes |

~ Dogkit felt proud of himself for being at least slightly right about the use for Herbs. The black and white tom listened to his father state the other uses for what herbs are also used for. Dogkit took mental notes for what Elmshadow said. Dogkit then watched his father bring out a red berry of sorts. Ah, A holly berry. Another mental note. The gave Elmshadow a quick nod at the medicine cats warning about eating random things. Why would you eat something you've never seen before? That was just stupid. ~

| @Ravensong - Elmshadow; @Faline - Gentlepaw |

**Pitou** · #8 February 26th, 2023, 10:56 PM

**Elmshadow**

The medicine cat nodded passively toward Gentlepaw, "Yes, similar to a Death Berry, though the holly berry is not as fatal." He straightened as he tucked the holly berry back behind his paws and pushed forward two pieces of prey, a freshly killed mouse and old rat. The rat was not yet rotting but had a distinct underlying crowfood quality. He put the two pieces in front of him and looked to Dogkit and Gentlepaw. "Unknown plants are not the only thing that can poison you. The very thing we need to survive, and something that sits in our camp with us, can do very much the same, given appropriate circumstances. Which is what makes this skill even more important than your ability to identify safe herbs. Smell each of these. If you found these on the prey pile, would you eat it?"

**Pitou** · #9 March 15th, 2023, 02:32 AM

**Elmshadow**

@Willowfern - Nectarkit @zeebles - Autumnkit @gs29513 - Eaglekit @teddy. - Poppykit

Elmshadow carried a small bundle of herbs and plants along with his two pieces of freshkill and a bundle of cobwebs wrapped neatly around a stick into the den. He set everything down and looked down at his newest group, and his largest so far. He set the bright red holly berries in front of him first. He'd gone out looking for death berries but had, luckily, not found any readily available. The holly berries weren't as fatal but it got across the same point. He kept a paw loose and ready to fend off any advances towards the toxicly appetizing berries, understanding the potential risk in bringing poisonous things into camp but it was all for the greater good and the lives that could be saved by such knowledge. ”Do any of you know what these are?”

**Willowfern** · #10 March 15th, 2023, 09:47 AM

Nectarkit padded forwards, seeing Elmshadow.
She looked at the red berries with wide, curious eyes, she then looked back up at the medicine cat.
“Aren’t they…” She trailed off, as if she were racking her brain for what they could be, as if she’d seen them before. (She had no idea what they were. She’d never seen them.) “…herbs?” She asked eventually, giving up on trying to sound smart, “They look weird. Why are they round? I thought herbs were leaves n’ stuff?”
Nectarkit cocked her head to the side, hopeful that none of the other kits would know what these round herbs were. She didn’t want to be ignorant. She wanted to be the smartest one. She wanted to be the special one.

[ @Ravensong @zeebles @gs29513 @teddy. ]